"He is up there with the best," said Tottenham Hotspur manager Andres Villas-Boas. "He is showing tremendous skills and he is improving every day - he is such a young player - and helping the team. He is one of our major assets."

Asked if Bale might improve, Villas-Boas replied: "I think so."

"You always expect that the team can make an individual even better," said AVB. "The team changes so much from one year to another, and as he keeps learning, he will feel even better and probably his performances will improve.

"His finishing is very accurate. He has been prolific in front of goal this season and I think he is enjoying getting into those positions.

"His left foot is wonderful and the power and direction he applies on the ball is wonderful too."

Bale has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona - however Villas-Boas insists Bale is not for sale and will not be leaving the club in the January transfer window.

"It's obviously great to get my first hat-trick in the Premier League," said Bale. "But I think the most important thing is the team won today. We kept our challenge for Champions' League football alive."